Pro-environment publications ProPublica and Capital & Main reported how the oil and gas industry has lobbied hard in some states, including Oklahoma, to sabotage abandoned well cleanup bills.
They cited several instances, including in New Mexico where the oil and gas industry worked in writing regulations, then used its influence to change some of the bills.
“As regulators and legislators seek to require that drillers set aside more money for the work, they have invited oil companies and trade groups to help write the regulations. This dynamic — politically expedient in states where the industry wields tremendous influence — has combined with secretive drafting processes and millions of dollars of industry lobbying to weaken or kill proposals in state after state,” reported ProPublica
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